Senior Adviser Capability, Food Risk Management

Job Title:  Senior Adviser Capability, Food Risk Management

Role type: Permanent, full-time

Location: Wellington

General Salary Range D: $100,934 to $118,005 per annum depending on skills and experience

About the Role - Kōrero mō te Tūranga

We're looking for a Senior Adviser to lead and coordinate our continuous professional development (CPD) and learning and capability activities in Food Risk Management. The role is responsible for designing learning and development initiatives, primarily for verifiers and engaging with stakeholders across NZ Food safety environment.

Verifiers conduct regular verifications of food businesses throughout New Zealand to confirm their compliance with the food safety regulations and ensure that the food safety system is being effectively implemented, so the food they produce is safe and suitable. This role supports verifiers by developing and delivering professional development initiatives in line with the requirements for CPD within the Food Act 2014.

This role is crucial to the ongoing support of Verifiers strengthening their understanding of the food regulatory environment and developing their professional practice.   The goal is to foster a learning culture that strengthens consistency, confidence, and excellence in food safety verification.

The role will see you:

• Support the design and evolution of learning and development approaches that enable business to build their internal capability
• Design learning and training materials for stakeholders, including Food Act Verifiers and Verification agencies
• Contribute to the development of food safety-based content, facilitate blended learning by hosting workshops in-person and online
• Promote and support the Learning Management System Contribute to our internal strategic planning and annual work development programme development

About You - Mōu

Ideally you'll be from the food industry with a career history that includes Food Safety Training.

You will possess many of these skills and experience:

• A background/qualification in either food or other related science, food technology, training, and/or learning and development
• Experience in, and a passion for developing capability and supporting adult learning
• Experience gathering, organising, analysing, summarising and communicating scientific and legislative requirements to adult learners to enhance their knowledge, skills and aptitude
• The ability to build effective working relationships, influencing and gaining the support and participation of others

If you enjoy turning technical and behavioural content into effective learning programmes, are a confident speaker and want to support the food industry, then come and join us

You do not need to have all of these skills and experience to apply. We offer a breadth of development and learning opportunities and will welcome your application if you think you would be a great fit.

About the Team - Mō tō mātou Rōpū

New Zealand Food Safety plays an important role in setting the rules and creating the systems that food businesses use to grow, import, make and sell safe food to consumers both here and overseas.

The work of the Food Risk Management Directorate strongly contributes to our country's public health, economic, and wellbeing outcomes. We ensure that food is safe and suitable, consumers globally can trust food produced in New Zealand and make informed choices, food businesses can thrive and innovate within a fit-for-purpose regulatory framework, and overseas governments can have a high level of confidence and trust in our export assurances.

The Shared Services team recognises that when asking our customers to develop new skills, do something differently or change a behaviour it isn't enough to expect people to 'do as we say' without providing the 'why'. We develop our products and services with our customers involving them from inception to delivery.

About MPI - Mō te Manatū Ahu Matua

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) partners with New Zealand's food and fibre sector to be the world's most sustainable provider of high-value food and primary products.

Benefits of working at MPI - Ngā hua o te mahi i te Manatū Ahu Matua

• Bi-annual paid eye test and contribution to the costs of corrective lenses/frames
• Comprehensive MPI Induction Programme
• Career development and internal opportunities across the branch and organisation

Are you ready to make a difference? - Kua rite koe mō tēnei mahi whaitake?

We are committed to being a good partner under Te Tiriti o Waitangi which includes working closely with iwi, hapū, whānau and hāpori.

We aspire to reflect the diverse communities we serve, so we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, and identities. As an organisation, we are committed to making Manatū Ahu Matua Ministry for Primary Industries a great place to work for all.

In your Cover Letter we'd like to know about you, your values, your whakapapa; your interest and motivations for this role; the experience, abilities, strengths, personal attributes, and diverse perspectives you will bring to the role and this organisation, which may have also been gained outside of the workforce.

To view the position description and/or apply online, please click "APPLY FOR THIS JOB" or visit the MPI Careers Site. To apply, you must hold the right to work in New Zealand or be eligible to obtain it - click here to find out more about work visa eligibility and options.

Applications close at 11.59pm on Wednesday, 05 November 2025

If you have any questions about the role, please email 

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